"Religion And Perfectionism"

Alan: Until religion confronts "the downside" of perfectionism, 

it will continue to damage many, for the benefit of a gifted few.

"Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" 

is more accurately translated as 

"Be you complete as your heavenly Father is complete."

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be complete, therefore, as your heavenly Father is complete.

Matthew, Chapter 5

I strongly recommend a translation of the bible called "The Message." 

Here is how "The Message" renders Matthew, Chapter 5: 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A43-48&version=MSG  

"Anne Lamott On Writing. Why Perfectionism Kills Creativity"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/11/bird-by-bird-anne-lamott-on-writing-why.html

"Is Perfectionism A Curse: Paul Ryan Tells The Truth"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/09/is-perfectionism-curse-paul-ryan-tells.html

"The terrible thing about our time is precisely the ease with which theories can be put into practice.  The more perfect, the more idealistic the theories, the more dreadful is their realization.  We are at last beginning to rediscover what perhaps men knew better in very ancient times, in primitive times before utopias were thought of: that liberty is bound up with imperfection, and that limitations, imperfections, errors are not only unavoidable but also salutary. The best is not the ideal.  Where what is theoretically best is imposed on everyone as the norm, then there is no longer any room even to be good.  The best, imposed as a norm, becomes evil.”  "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander,” by Trappist monk, Father Thomas Merton

More Merton Quotes

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/04/merton-best-imposed-as-norm-becomes.html

Religion and Perfectionism

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/11/religion-and-perfectionism.html

"My Gripe With Christianity"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2017/01/my-gripe-with-christianity.html

James' Epistle: "Judgment Without Mercy Will Be Shown To Anyone Who Has Not Shown Mercy"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2016/03/james-epistle-judgment-without-mercy.html

Mohammed: "Eliminate Doubt And What's Left Is Absolute, Heartless Perfection"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.mx/2013/11/mohammed-eliminate-doubt-and-whats-left.html